Cable-tap.



C. B. MILLS.

CABLE TAP.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.24. I9I3. IIENEWED IEB. 13.1915.

1,144,224., Patented June 22, 1915.

imma emana ,aan muon CHARLES B. MILLS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR F ONE-FOURTH TO ALFRED J'. CARR, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

CABLE-TAP.

To all whom it may concern the tap thereto, ing the life of the cable and preventing short s and Be it lmown that I, CHARLES B. MILLS, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cable-Taps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in cable taps and has particular application to a portable tap whereby a branch cable may be secured to and electrically connected with the main cable in order that power may be taken from the latter at any desired point.

ln carrying out the present invention, it 1s my purpose to provide a cable ta which will be constructed in such manner t at mutilation of the cable, in the application of is avoided thereby prolongcircuitng.

lt is also my purpose to provide a device of the class described `which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, efficiency and durability, one which may be readily convenientlyvapplied to the cable and one which -may be manufactured and installed at a minimum expense.

A. With the above and'other, objects in view,

the invention consists in 'the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope'of the claims. s y Y the accompanying drawing; Figure l is a top plan view of a tap constructed in accordance with my present invention, the same being shown as applied to a cable. liig. 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, the conducting strips and the yoke being shown in place. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the base of the tap. Fig. 4l is a cross sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, the conducting strips and the yoke being shown in place. ln the present instance, l have shown my improved cable tap as designed for making a T-connection. lf wish it to be understood,

however, that the tap is not confined to this particular type of connection as the same may be employed for making Y and other connections. 4

eferring now to the accom ing in detail, C designates t which, in the present instance, is of the duplex type embodying two parallel current carrying conductors c, c each wrapped anying draw- Specication of Letters Patent.

apart therefrom enter the other conductor of the e main cable v Patented June 22, 11915.

1913, Serial No. 791,632. Renewed February 13, 1915. Serial No. 8,073.

with suitable insulation and disposed within a single casing so as to present, in effect, a single cable.

y improved tap comprises a base member l composed of suitable insulating material and, in the present instance, of substantially rectangular contour and having a block 2 extending outwardly from one edge thereof approximately centrally ofv such edge so. as to present, in effect, a Substantially T-shaped member. Embedded in the upper surface of the base l is a substantially T-shaped conducting strip 3 having the head thereof arranged .parallel with one center line of the base l and the .base eX- tending at right angles to such center line and terminating in the block 2. A substantially l.shaped conductingstrip 4 is also embedded in the base and has one limb thereof disposed in parallelism with the head of the T.-shaped strip 3 and spaced and the remaining limb curved around one end of the head of the strip 3` and terminating parallel with the base' of the 'shaped strip in the block 2. Extending upwardly from the parallel limbs of these conducting strips 3, 4 are prongs 5 adapted to penetrate the insulation on the cable and enter the conductors thereof so that an electricalY connection between the conductors of the cable and the strips 3, 4 is established, the prongs upon the respective limb of one conductors of the cable, while the prongs on the adjacent limb of the remaining strip cable. Surrounding the cable C and holding the latter securely upon the base l is a substantially U-shaped yoke 6 having the free terminals thereof extended outwardly as at 7 and sea-ted upon thebase l at the opposite edges thereofand formed with apertures alining with openings -in the base to receive securing screws or bolts 8 whereby the yoke is fastened to the base and the tap held to the cable.

rlhe numeral 9 designates a cableterminal member composed of a block l0 of insulating material formed with parallel bores 11, 11 each adapted to receive a metallic plug 12 having one end formed with a socket 13 opening onto one edge of the block and de-V strip entering one of the loc signed to receive the adjacent end of the rey rlhe ends of be sweated spective conductor of the cable. the conductors of the cable may lll@ in the sockets 13 of the plugs 12. The opposite yend of the block 10 is rabbeted as at .11 and the adjacent portions of the plugs 12, 12 are similarly formed and exposed so that when the rabbeted end of the block 10 is seated upon the block 2 on the base 1 a flush joint will be provided and the plugs 12, 12 'Contact with the ends of the conductor strips 3, 4. By means of this construction, it will be seen that when the block 10 is placed upon the block 2 and the prongs 5, pass into the main cable, the branch xcable connected to the block will be electrically connected with the main cable thereby permitting power to be taken from the latter at any desired point.

In the -present instance, the block 2 is formed with bolt holes 15 alining with similar holes formed in the respective ends of the strips 3 and 4 and with threaded apertures formed in the rabbeted ends of the lugs 12, 12 so as to receive the securing bolts 16, while the rabbeted portion of the blocky 10 is formed with ybolt openings17 alining with similar openings formed in the rabbeted ends of the plugs 12 and with threaded apertures formed in the adjacent ends of the strips 8, 4 so as to receive securing bolts 18, the bolts 16 and 18 serving to maintain the blocks 10 and 2 connected.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction and manner of employing my invention will be readily apparent. It

' will be seen that I have provided a cable tap whereby power may be taken from the main cable at any desired point, whereby the use of tape and analogous binding materials is avoided and whereby a good electrical contact between the main and branch cables is established.

I claim: n

1. A cable tapy comprising a base, conducting strips secured to the upper surface of said base and spaced apart, prongsupstanding from said strips, a yoke secured to v the upper surface of the base and inclosing said prongs, a terminal member connected to said strips, said member comprising a block of insulating material formed with parallel bores, a metallic plug within each bore and having a socket formed in one end thereof, 1snd means connecting said block with said ase.

2. A cable tap comprising a base having a block projecting outwardly from one side thereof, conducting strips embedded in said base, prongs upstanding from said strips, a terminal member comprising a block having one end portion rabbet-ed to engage said first block and formed with parallel bores, metallic plugs within said bores and each having one end thereof formed with a socket and the opposite end lying within the rabbeted portion of said block and contacting with said strips, and means for securingsaid terminal member to said block.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

` CHARLES B. MILLS.

Witnesses z E. EDMONSTON, Jr,` JOHN J. MQCARTHY. 

